The creators of SCAtoday.net wish you and yours a Happy New Year, and we thank our contributors, staff, and readers for a great 2005!

How many times have you wondered about the origin of the song "Auld Lang Syne?" Just in time for New Year's Day, Dover Publications offers a brief history, and the words to all five verses.

Diane Roberts of NPR's Weekend Edition offered a very politically correct holiday greeting on Sunday, December 18, 2005 with a look at the winter holiday season, ancient Roman style.

Radu and Broinnfinn, King and Queen of the Kingdom of Gleann Abhann, send Christmas greetings to the Known World.

Mistress Derbail inghean Conchobar, Textile Arts Coordinator for Artisan's Row at Gulf Wars XV, is seeking volunteers to teach and demonstrate at the event.

The Shire of Ravenwood and the Incipient Shire of Flintmarsh Present: Meridian Maneuvers '06: Let's get it on!

A new book by University of Victoria mathematician Florin Diacu, Lost Millennium: History's Timetables Under Siege, explores the time theories of Russian mathematician Anatoli Fomenko and determines that the year is really 963.

The Shire of Mynydd Gwyn is proud to announce that once again Rent a Don will grace the shore of Insulae Draconis. This year it is our honour to have Don Giacomo Cavalli da Treviso from the Kingdom of Caid. A list of classes is currently being penned and will be made available shortly.

The Canton of Sudentorre is proud to host the next Kingdom of Atlantia Arts and Sciences Festival. We invite all artisans to display their works, and all non-artisans to come and see the exhibits.

The Shire of Harpelstane is pleased to announce that Warbands will again take place at Edzell Castle. So please make a place in your diaries for Insulae Draconis' Greatest Event.

Hail and welcome to all! A celebration in honor of Charles Augustus, Holy Emperor of Rome, is to be held by the Barony of Lochmere. Cast off Winter's cold shroud and come revel in the warmth of our company and hall!

I have the pleasure of announcing the third quarterly garb workshop, to be held by Stella Seraphima in the shire of Isengau, on February 3-5th! Now is the time to pull out all the garb you've been 'meaning to get to', get help on various aspects of garb making, or just to sit around and stitch in good company!

12th Night for the Shire is Friday, January 13th through Sunday January 15th, near Evergreen, AL at Woodmen of the World Camp Riversprings (that's in Alabama, people. There was a typo in the PopChiv). It's for the FULL WEEKEND!!! We decided to make our event more centrally located for more people to be able to come share this event with us this year and to have more indoor sleep space.

Join us for the Love Revel on March 25, 2006! Join for a day of Tourneys, both Heavy and Rapier. The Theme for these tourneys will be a Rose Tournament with a Twist. With the victor of each Bout Presenting a Rose to the Consort of his or her Opponent and profusely Apologize for Killing their Lord Or Lady. As Shire tradition holds we will also select the Shire Rapier Champion. In addition to the Tourneys we will have games, which will serve to choose the New Queen and King of Misrule.

Peregrine Fairchylde, Coordinator for the Gleann Abhann Supply Run, has announced that as of December 16, 2005, the supply effort is officially ended.

It's that time of year again. We will be hosting our Regional Fight Practice at the Meadville Area Senior High School. As usual we will have heavy weapons, youth combat, and fencing if participiation warrants it.

The Barony of Windhaven Proudly Presents Yule Feast 'Til You Surrender.

The frigid winds of winter have chased even the hardiest of armies from the field. Now as the long cold nights of winter close in, journey to Bright Hills for a day of romance, a feast to delight both the eyes and the palate and evening of dancing, sweetened by a sideboard of deserts, specially created to hand feed to your partner.

Greetings! You are invited to participate in a day full of Combative Arts/Western Martial Arts training hosted by Chateau de Camville. The Day Camp will offer a structured lesson plan, slow drill and free focused sparring specifically geared to help you improve your understanding of the combative arts as related to armored combat and to sharpen you performance on the practice, tourney and melee field.

Slightly late, but still fun, a musical rendition of "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" - in Latin!

On Saturday, January 7, the Middle Kingdom will auction off its retired Royal Regalia to the populace, with proceeds used to maintain and update current Regalia.

Lady Rhiannon of the Kingdom of Outlands has posted her photo album from the final court of Their Royal Majesties Hoegaarden and Chiara, and the Coronation of Their Majesties Hrorek and Caolifhionn.

Mistress Jessa d'Avondale, Pennsic webmaster, has announced that a new Pennsic history section has been added to the annual event's official web site.

Darter the Chronicler has released 18 new photo albums with approximately 1000 pictures from Pennsic 34.

In an effort to bolster flagging tourism, the Welsh town of Caernarfon is stepping up its plans to utilize its medieval castle as the center of its marketing campaign for 2006.

On the border between Syria and Iraq, archaeological excavation has uncovered the remains of a settlement from the fifth millenium BCE.

The plans for a UK£180 million redevelopment, including offices, modern apartments and a five-star hotel, of the Canongate, an area dating back to 1128, mark a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of this part of the Royal Mile.

The Shire of Ad Flumen Caerulum invites all the people of our fair kingdom and of all other regions of the known world to come to the "AFC - Arts & Science Expedition II

The narwhal, known in folklore as the "unicorn whale" for its spiraling tusk, has been a mystery to scientists and traditional Inuit cultures alike, for no one could explain the purpose of the tusk. Now a researcher from Harvard says he has the answer.

A £50,000 grant will pay for a tour of Dewsbury Minster, showcasing its 'lost' heritage. It will also pay for improvements to the Grade II-listed building’s outdated lighting, heating, access, signs and literature in the site's west end.